For over fifty minutes the Canadiens held a one goal lead, but in the final six minutes of regulation Zach Parise broke David Aebischer’s shutout. The goal was scored while the Canadiens lethargic second line was on the ice. Parise broke to the net and Scott Gomez passed the puck through the slot, Souray intercepted the pass but fumbled the puck and Parise hammered home his tenth of the season, had the Devils not scored they would have gone to their fifth power play as there was a delayed penalty.
Alexander Perezhogin extended his point streak to three games when he set up Radek Bonk at the four minute mark of the first period. Martin Brodeur made a rare mistake with the puck and Perezhogin gathered it in the corner Bonk went to the net and deflected in his sixth of the season, equalizing the amount he scored last year in 34 fewer games.
During regulation both penalty kills were flawless. The Devils killed off two minor penalty’s while the Canadiens killed off four, including almost a full minute two man advantage. But the Devils would eventually score the game winning goal on the leagues best penalty kill with just eight seconds left in overtime.
Radek Bonk lost the face-off to Scott Gomez, Patrik Elias worked a give and go with Brian Rafalski eventually ripping a slap shot Aebischer o extend the Devils unbeaten streak to eight games against the Canadiens in East Rutherford.
Game Notes
Andrei Markov missed tonight’s game for the Canadiens as he was out with the flu, Janne Niinimaa replaced him in the line-up. Mark Streit played his 2nd consecutive game on the 4th line. Scott Gomes picked up his 300th career NHL assist.
Three Stars
1. Patrik Elias – led his team in shots and scored the game winning goal.
2. Zach Parise- scored the game tying goal in the final minutes. (2nd goal in as many games)
3. Brain Rafalski- assisted on both Devils goals.
Fun Facts
1. The Canadiens had only 19 shots, their lowest of the season, last year they were held to 19 or less 7 times
2. The Canadiens are 1 point below where they were at the 27 game mark last season, but went on to lose 13 of their next 19 games.
3. The Buffalo Sabres are now the only remaining NHL team yet to lose two games in a row.
4. The Canadiens lost all four meetings with the Devils last year but followed three of those games up with winnings the following match.